Many experts have emphasised that chatbots are not sufficiently mature to be able to technically diagnose patient conditions or replace the judgements of health professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has significantly increased the utilisation of health-oriented chatbots, for instance, as a conversational interface to answer questions, recommend care options, check symptoms and complete tasks such as booking appointments. In this paper, we take a proactive approach and consider how the emergence of task-oriented chatbots as partially automated consulting systems can influence clinical practices and expert-client relationships. We suggest the need for new approaches in professional ethics as the large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence may revolutionise professional decision-making and client-expert interaction in healthcare organisations. We argue that the implementation of chatbots amplifies the project of rationality and automation in clinical practice and alters traditional decision-making practices based on epistemic probability and prudence. This article contributes to the discussion on the ethical challenges posed by chatbots from the perspective of healthcare professional ethics.

/pdf/chatbot-breakthrough-in-the-2020s-an-ethical-reflection-on-2544jlbwba.pdf

Chatbot breakthrough in the 2020s? An ethical reflection on the trend of automated consultations in health care.

/pdf/ukreplenie-zdorovia-i-profilaktika-khronicheskikh-srqwf2b9on.pdf

Укрепление здоровья и профилактика хронических неинфекционных заболеваний в условиях пандемии и самоизоляции. Консенсус экспертов Национального медицинского исследовательского центра терапии и профилактической медицины и Российского общества профилактики неинфекционных заболеваний

Voice assistants (VA) are an emerging technology that have become an essential tool of the twenty-first century. The VA ease of access and use has resulted in high usability curiosity in voice assistants. Usability is an essential aspect of any emerging technology, with every technology having a standardized usability measure. Despite the high acceptance rate on the use of VA, to the best of our knowledge, not many studies were carried out on voice assistants' usability. We reviewed studies that used voice assistants for various tasks in this context. Our study highlighted the usability measures currently used for voice assistants. Moreover, our study also highlighted the independent variables used and their context of use. We employed the ISO 9241-11 framework as the measuring tool in our study. We highlighted voice assistant's usability measures currently used; both within the ISO 9241-11 framework, as well as outside of it to provide a comprehensive view. A range of diverse independent variables are identified that were used to measure usability. We also specified that the independent variables still not used to measure some usability experience. We currently concluded what was carried out on voice assistant usability measurement and what research gaps were present. We also examined if the ISO 9241-11 framework can be used as a standard measurement tool for voice assistants. 

/pdf/a-systematic-review-of-voice-assistant-usability-an-iso-9241-4yywx8np.pdf

A Systematic Review of Voice Assistant Usability: An ISO 9241–11 Approach

The use of natural language interfaces in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) is undergoing intense study through dedicated scientific and industrial research. The latest contributions in the field, including deep learning approaches like recurrent neural networks (RNNs), the potential of context-aware strategies and user-centred design approaches, have brought back the attention of the community to software-based dialogue systems, generally known as conversational agents or chatbots. Nonetheless, and given the novelty of the field, a generic, context-independent overview of the current state of research on conversational agents covering all research perspectives involved is missing. Motivated by this context, this article reports a survey of the current state of research of conversational agents through a systematic literature review of secondary studies. The conducted research is designed to develop an exhaustive perspective through a clear presentation of the aggregated knowledge published by recent literature within a variety of domains, research focuses and contexts. As a result, this research proposes a holistic taxonomy of the different dimensions involved in the conversational agents’ field, which is expected to help researchers and to lay the groundwork for future research in the field of natural language interfaces.

/pdf/software-based-dialogue-systems-survey-taxonomy-and-1w199w1v.pdf

Software-Based Dialogue Systems: Survey, Taxonomy, and Challenges

In the current epidemic of a new coronavirus infection, COVID-19 treatment of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDS) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), in particular, requires close attention of doctors. The main objectives of such patients’ management tactics are to ensure that patients comply with self-isolation measures that prevent infection, motivate patients to follow all medical recommendations. Special attention should be paid to comply with recommended treatment of CVD. In the case of an infectious disease, it is necessary to assess the prescribed therapy for interaction with medications already taken by the patient. However, the tactics for COVID-19 therapy, including in patients with NCDS, may change over time, since there are currently no drugs with proven effectiveness for the treatment of a new coronavirus infection.

/pdf/samokontrol-i-lechenie-khronicheskikh-neinfektsionnykh-5f7fe1hkm3.pdf

Самоконтроль и лечение хронических неинфекционных заболеваний в условиях пандемии COVID-19. Консенсус экспертов Национального общества доказательной фармакотерапии и Российского общества профилактики неинфекционных заболеваний

From a perspective of behavioral change, we review medical chatbot literature included in top peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and build up a comprehensive picture. We examine literature on how people feel about using a medical chatbot and based on that how far chatbots are useful to change harmful behavior. To structure the review we use the theory of planned behavior and the theory of reasoned action. Based on this we conclude five design-oriented recommendations. We expect this research to identify behavioral aspects that contribute to the acceptance, usage and effectiveness of medical chatbots in future.

A Systematic Literature Review of Medical Chatbot Research from a Behavior Change Perspective

Due to diversity and many possibilities for data collection in semiconductor manufacturing, various complex machine learning approaches exist for different process steps. However, a systematic overview of these approaches is missing. This study, therefore, systematically reviews machine learning applications for process monitoring and control in semiconductor manufacturing based on peer-reviewed literature. To structure the review, we use the wafer fabrication plant-wide framework for process monitoring and control and the framework of continuous process improvement based on machine learning technique. We identify respective application areas and future research needs of machine learning for process monitoring and control in semiconductor manufactnring.

Timon Neitzel

Papers

A Systematic Literature Review of Medical Chatbot Research from a Behavior Change Perspective

A Systematic Literature Review of Machine Learning Applications for Process Monitoring and Control in Semiconductor Manufacturing